FR2671639A1 - DEVICE FOR MONITORING A FIELD. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention describes a device (10) for the surveillance of a terrain and for the activation of a recognition system to determine the presence of a vehicle on the monitored terrain, which comprises at least one transmitter / receiver module ( 12) with at least one junction point (14) for connecting a sensor line (16). The or each sensor line (16) is provided with at least one detection module (18) connected by a line (26). The or each sensor line (16) terminates with a coupling module (20) at its end section (22) which is remote from the transmitter / receiver module (12). The or each transmitter / receiver module (12) is provided for the exchange of data with at least one detection station or at least one relay module or a central unit.

Description

The invention relates to a device for monitoring a site.

  device for monitoring a terrain and for activating a recognition system upon detection of the

movement of a vehicle.

  Such a device can be used for the protection of objects, in underground mines or in the open air, to carry out work with explosives or

  in connection with weapon systems.

  Document DE-36 25 334 C 2 discloses a weapon system consisting of fully automatic anti-armor mines including sensor systems for recognizing armored vehicles, pointing and setting off mines, as well as for locating other mines and the intercommunication with them, these mines forming a minefield and the mines being provided with electronic systems for the evaluation of the sensor system as well as additional electronic circuits mounted upstream which can be programmed to the advance with memories for the processing of exchanged information, by means

  which measures the topology of the minefield.

  Each individual mine in the weapon system is equipped with an intercommunication device for exchanging information from the sensor system and electronic systems with other mines. The intercommunication device is made up for each mine in this weapon system. known by a laser transmitter and a laser receiver with scanning device, as well as a 360 ′ retromodulator with IFF receiver, the sensor system intended for target recognition, pointing of weapons and triggering of mines comprising a range finder laser, and the laser transmitter and the laser receiver forming a part of this laser rangefinder of the sensor system. Intelligent mines of this type are relatively expensive because of their constitution which includes system of

  sensors and electronic systems.

  The object of the invention is to create a device of the type mentioned in the preamble by means of which it is possible to economically carry out extensive monitoring of a site, the device forming a system that can be configured at will by a user and an assembly incorporating redundancy

whatever being made possible.

  According to the invention, this object is achieved by at least one transmitter / receiver module comprising at least one junction point for the connection of a sensor line which comprises at least one sensor module connected by a line, the or each line to sensors ending at its end section which is distant from the transmitter / receiver module by a coupling module and from the fact that each transmitter / receiver module is

  planned for data exchange with a central unit.

  To monitor a terrain or to activate a recognition system, the invention also provides that the or each transmitter / receiver module comprises four junction points for the connection of respective sensor lines, and that the or each coupling module is provided for the connection of

four sensor lines.

  Advantageously, the or each line of sensors comprises as detection module at least one acoustic detection module and / or at least one seismic detection module and / or at least one fiber optic module. Preferably, each module includes a

  self-sufficient energy supply.

  As for the sensor lines, they can be arranged in line, in a staggered fashion on several lines or on several lines forming a network. The device of the invention has the advantage of making it possible to produce a device which is simple and relatively inexpensive, a broad, inexpensive monitoring of a site and the possibility of achieving any desired redundancy, the device being a system which can be configured. in any way and at will by a

user or user.

  As already mentioned in the preamble, the device of the invention is suitable for example for the protection of objects or for carrying out work with reliable and safe explosives, the device of the invention

  being preferably used in military technique.

  The device of the invention will now be described with reference to a use in military technique and with reference to the drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the device for monitoring terrain and for activating of a recognition system, and FIG. 2 is a representation of a second embodiment of the device but which, by comparison with the relatively simple constitution of the device shown in FIG. 1, is crosslinked,

that is to say in the form of a network.

  FIG. 1 shows a device 10 for monitoring a terrain and for activating a recognition system when the movement of a vehicle on the terrain monitored by the device 10 is observed. The device 10 comprises a transmitter / module. receiver 12 with standardized junction points 14 A sensor line 16 is connected to one of the junction points 14 The sensor line 16 comprises a detector module 18 constituted for example in the form of an acoustic detection module and / or a a seismic detection module and / or a fiber optic module A coupling module 20 serves as termination for the sensor line 16 at its end section 22 which is distant from the transmitter / receiver module 12 The detection 20

includes junction points 24.

  The sensor line 16 comprises a line 26 comprising connecting or connecting members 28, the line 26 preferably also comprising a

  alarm line than a surveillance line.

  In FIG. 1 is shown a so-called simple system, in which a sensor line 16 is formed in the form of a line. FIG. 2, on the other hand, shows a system with crosslinked devices 10, for monitoring a terrain and activating of a recognition system In FIG. 2 are represented two transmitter / receiver modules 12, two sensor lines 16 starting from a transmitter / receiver module 12 while that of the other transmitter / receiver module 12 represented on the right of the FIG. 2 start with three sensor lines 16 Each of the sensor lines 16 comprises a certain number of detection modules 18 and each sensor line 16 is connected to its end section 22 which is distant from the transmitter / receiver module associated with a coupling module 20 Thanks to the coupling modules 20, two field monitoring units, 32 whose limits are indicated by lines, can be produced

dashed 34, 36.

  We will now describe the operating mode of a device 10 for monitoring a terrain and activating a recognition system when the movement of a vehicle on the monitored terrain is detected, the use of the device relating to the field of military technology and comprising, as essential elements, advanced reconnaissance components as well as a so-called early activation and alarm system The reconnaissance components

2671639

  advanced are detector components used to provide general information on enemy attack movements at the front of the front of the future combat area The task assigned to it includes the detection of offensive movements of enemy vehicles to be attacked as well as determining the position, speed, direction, type and number of enemy vehicles to be fought. The information thus obtained allows or facilitates for example the fire control of a cannon or missile artillery, which can be equipped with dispersing or target-seeking ammunition, as well as fire control of minefields which have been posed, for example by missiles. Thanks to the information mentioned, it is also possible to direct partly autonomous combat drones, which can be achieved by indicating the direction

  and the distance from the area where the target is located.

  The detector components themselves advantageously do not include any active element, which means that, unlike the usual minefields, it is possible to deposit sensors of less complex constitution when there are periods of tension without endangering or blocking troops proper As a result of the early installation of the detector components, it is possible and advantageous to deposit sensors of less complex constitution, which can be achieved by

particularly by means of vehicles.

  A considerable advantage also consists in the fact that the technical measures intended for the communication and for the determination of the position of individual detector components are greatly reduced, which proves to be advantageous as regards

the cost of the system.

  Because of the relatively limited location of sensor lines placed in the field, that is to say the lines, it is often possible to achieve by these lines the communication between the elements or the individual detector modules, at least on the place where the ground must absolutely be maintained Radio links are only valid on the other hand where it is expected that the position of the battlefield will change quickly, or when using radio links to constitute a possibility of redundant communication when the connections by the lines

  are damaged or destroyed.

  As for the aforementioned early activation and alarm system, it is a system which may consist of a system of inexpensive lost sensors, that is to say suitable detection modules and a transmitter module. / low cost receiver with low transmission power This system is set up according to the conditions and monitors sections of terrain of varying importance If, for example, groups of armored vehicles move through the sections under surveillance, their position is transmitted by the transmitter / receiver module to a remote control unit This can be done for example via a relay module Thanks to the position information which is sent to the control unit, the corresponding sections of land can for example be closed by minefields At the same time, a direct attack on the detected armored group is possible by systems that can be moved by air connection with the systems which can be moved by air which have just been mentioned, a coupling of the early activation and alarm system with a detection station or with the mentioned central is of interest. The detection station is mainly intended for carry out, after activation by early activation and alarm system, a detailed reconnaissance of the enemy with a view to optimal use of systems moved by air. The individual detection modules can be connected by lines of the same length and this

  made at equidistant junction points.

  The positions of the start and end of a sensor line can be measured if necessary by a device of their own and transmitted to the associated transmitter / receiver module In this transmitter / receiver module and by system initialization, we calculate the positions of the individual sensor modules and they are stored together with the address of the corresponding sensor modules The positions of the individual sensor modules, of the coupling modules and of the transmitter / receiver modules are sent to the central unit and can be incorporated

  automatically in a digital terrain map.

  By an appropriate combination of individual modules of the early activation and alarm system, it is possible to create surveillance zones several kilometers wide in the field. As has been mentioned, the or each transmitter / receiver module preferably comprises four junction points, which makes it possible with the or each transmitter / receiver module to combine a certain number of detection modules and four modules coupling, all of these elements forming a field monitoring unit This means that it is possible to connect four monitoring units via a coupling module. The coupling module knows the position data of the individual detection modules of the connected sensor lines If a fault occurs in a relay module, or if this module is destroyed, the associated detection modules can be associated by the coupling modules correspondents to other field surveillance units When there is

  destruction of a line, we proceed in the same way.

  However, this means that by switching through the coupling modules, any desired redundancy can be obtained, which leads to high

  resistance to disturbances of the whole system.

  Each module includes standardized junction points and returns information on the state of the

  module thanks to its address which was queried.

  The detection modules are interrogated for example cyclically by the transmitter / receiver module with which the corresponding detection modules are associated. If a detection module becomes sensitive to a target, that is to say when a target is signaled , the position of the detection module is

sent to the central.

  Preferably, the detection modules incorporate an adaptive threshold value detection after a rough classification If the classifier concludes that it is a vehicle constituting a target, the state of the detection module

is changed.

  The detection modules of the early activation and alarm system are purely passive modules and are therefore not detectable, which is an advantage. Radio communications between the transmitter / receiver module (s) and the detector station or the station Relays or the central only understand very low data transmission speeds, which makes electronic tracking of this radio traffic very difficult. The operating mode of the system is as follows: installation of the early activation and alarm system in the field, activation or initialization of the early activation and alarm system, the early activation and alarm system found in watch position, target detection, coarse classification, reduction of status modification information and reduction of information on target detection position, automatic incorporation of targets detected on the digital terrain map in the power plant. Communication between the early activation and alarm system and the central, detector or relay station preferably takes place via a high-frequency communication channel which resists disturbances. transmitter / receiver module is just sufficient to respond to the detector stations or relay stations mentioned, from where the data can be redirected towards the rear towards the central unit by a high-power communication system The following information is transmitted by modules transmitters / receivers to the detection or relay modules: regular information indicating that the system is in order, after initializing the position of each individual detection module of the early activation and alarm system, the position of the detection modules target recognition,

  possible points of interruption, i.e.

  tell the address and position of the detection modules with which there is no longer any contact, the destroyed positions, that is to say the address and the position of the detection modules which no longer react to an interrogation , changes in the number of detection modules connected, i.e. the corresponding state of the coupling modules and the addresses of the new

  detection modules coming into action.

  The transmitter / receiver modules can receive an activation or deactivation order by

  via the detector station or the relay module.

  Naturally, it is also possible to extend the early activation and alarm system, for example by detection modules which are more expensive than the acoustic, seismic or fiber optic detection modules mentioned above, and these are

  for example IR, LEM, mm W detectors or the like.

  I Yes active modules with suitable directing effect can also be used, which are used in particular for the protection of the

call / early alarm.

Claims (7)

  1 Device for monitoring terrain and for activating a recognition system when detecting the movement of a vehicle, characterized by at least one transmitter / receiver module (12) comprising at least one junction point (14) for the connection of a sensor line (16) which comprises at least one sensor module (18) connected by a line (26), the or each sensor line (16) ending at its end section (22) which is remote from the transmitter / receiver module (12) by a coupling module (20) and in that each transmitter / receiver module (12) is provided for a   data exchange with a central unit.   2 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the or each transmitter / receiver module (12) comprises four junction points (14) for the connection of a respective sensor line (16), and in that the or each coupling module (20) is provided for   connection of four sensor lines (16>.   3 Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the or each line of sensors (16) comprises as detection module (18) at least one acoustic detection module and / or at least one seismic detection module and / or at least one fiber optic module.   4 Device according to any one of   claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each   module (12, 18, 20) includes a supply of energy of its own.   Device according to any one of   claims 1 to 4, characterized in that several   sensor lines (16) are arranged in line. he 12 2671639   6 Device according to any one of   claims 1 to 4, characterized in that several   sensor lines (16) are arranged so spread over several lines.   7 Device according to any one of   claims i to 4, characterized in that several   sensor lines are arranged on several lines forming a network.